Minnesota Public Construction Bonds

Minnesota requires surety security when public works contracts at or above the competitive-bid threshold in §471.345, subd. 3; performance and payment bonds; the statute does not set a universal percentage. Public works projects can have project-specific exceptions; confirm whether the contracting entity’s statutory threshold and project type trigger the bond.

What Is Surety Bonds?

A surety bond guarantees that your business meets a specific obligation to a customer, contracting party or government agency. If a contract, license or permit requires one, get its exact form and amount; a bond is not insurance for your own losses. Read the national Surety bonds guide.

Minnesota Surety Bonds Requirements

RequirementDetails
Public construction securityPublic works contracts at or above the competitive-bid threshold in §471.345, subd. 3; performance and payment bonds; the statute does not set a universal percentage. 1

What Should You Watch for With Surety Bonds in Minnesota?

  • Check the Minnesota Contract Trigger

    Minnesota law triggers public-work security when public works contracts at or above the competitive-bid threshold in §471.345, subd. 3. Performance and payment bonds; the statute does not set a universal percentage Ask the contracting agency to confirm whether your project falls under this rule and to state the bond penal sum in the bid documents. 1

  • Minnesota Has Another Bond Rule for This Work

    Public works projects can have project-specific exceptions; confirm whether the contracting entity’s statutory threshold and project type trigger the bond. Before binding the surety, match the required obligee, bond form, and covered obligation to this separate rule. 2

  • Match the Solicitation’s Bond Form

    The Minn. Stat. §574.26 governs this statutory obligation, while the project solicitation identifies the obligee, filing deadline, and any bid-security details. Get the final form approved before the bid date and confirm that the named surety is authorized for Minnesota work. 1,2

Which Surety Bonds Providers Have Minnesota License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Surety bonds; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Minnesota. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • TechInsurance

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Specialty Program Group LLC

    TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. 16

    TechInsurance arranges surety bonds for small businesses.

Who Regulates Insurance in Minnesota?

Minnesota Department of Commerce

The Minnesota Department of Commerce regulates insurance companies and producers, reviews rates and forms, and investigates complaints. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. 3,4,5

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Minnesota

Reported tax rate. 3% of taxable gross premiums less return premiums, plus a 0.04% stamping fee on taxable premium when Minnesota is the insured's home state 6,9,7,8,10

When Minnesota is the insured's home state, 3% tax applies to taxable gross premiums less return premiums; the separate 0.04% stamping fee on taxable premium is paid by you to the broker. Minnesota requires a policy warning that insolvency loss payment by a nonadmitted insurer is not guaranteed. A diligent search generally applies unless a Minnesota-licensed producer unaffiliated with the surplus-lines broker refers the risk, which the statute deems unavailable from a licensed insurer; an exempt commercial purchaser also has a separate written-request route after the required admitted-market disclosure.

Minnesota Surplus Lines Association

What Should You Ask Before Buying Surety Bonds in Minnesota?

  1. Which Minnesota statute or procurement rule triggers this bond for our project, and what is the exact penal sum?
  2. Will the obligee accept another form of security, and who must approve that substitution in Minnesota?
  3. What notice, filing, and claim deadlines should our subcontractors and suppliers track under this bond?

Surety Bonds in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions

When does a Minnesota public construction project require a surety bond?

Public works contracts at or above the competitive-bid threshold in §471.345, subd. 3. Performance and payment bonds; the statute does not set a universal percentage 1

Does Minnesota have another bond requirement beyond the public construction bond?

Yes. Public works projects can have project-specific exceptions; confirm whether the contracting entity’s statutory threshold and project type trigger the bond. 2

Surety Bonds Guides for Other States

Other coverage in MinnesotaEvery coverage guide for Minnesota, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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